Malocclusion, facial and psychological predictors of quality of life in adolescents

Objective: To identify clinical and psychological predictors of OHRQoL.

Methods: Cross-sectional clinical and questionnaire study with 332 adolescents aged 11-14 years. The facial profile was classified through photographs and dental malocclusion was classified by the Dental Health Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. The psychosocial variables were assessed by the Aesthetic Component of IOTN, the Orthodontic Aesthetic Subjective Impact Score and the Global Negative Self-Evaluation. OHRQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The associations were analyzed by multiple logistic regression models.

Results: Higher aesthetic concern and low self-esteem were 3.43 and 3.34 times more likely to affect OHRQoL (p⟨0.05), respectively. The facial and dental aspects of malocclusion were unrelated to OHRQoL.

Conclusions: Facial and dental aspects of malocclusion were unrelated to OHRQoL, whereas psychosocial variables such as self-perception of orthodontic treatment need and self-esteem predicted adolescents' oral health related quality of life.